21 JULY 2023, MANILA —The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) continues its role as an eco-warrior in plastic waste management system contributing to cleaner and plastic-free oceans by implementing “Clean Port, Clean Oceans Project” nationwide.
Recently, PPA received a recognition from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WFF) - Philippines for its untiring efforts and commitment in implementing more sustainable plastic-free operations by enhancing waste management capacity and collection and by implementing a zero plastic community in its 130 ports all over the country.
“We should not be wasting time in contributing to end the global problem in plastic pollution, it has always been our priority to change how we consume and dispose the plastic that we use. Here in PPA, we make sure our ports are eco-friendly and plastic-free”, said PPA General Manager Jay Santiago.
The awarding ceremony hosted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) was held on 18 July 2023, attended by PPA Assistant General Manager for Finance, Legal and Administration Atty. Elmer Nonnatus Cadano who also gave his acceptance speech stating PPA and WWF’s partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2021.
“Thank you, WWF Philippines and Grieg Foundation for your untiring and unwavering commitment and generous contribution which were both instrumental in realizing this project and paving way for its successful implementation. We are grateful for the expertise and guidance you have extended to us especially on the administration of baseline studies and waste analysis in our pilot ports,” AGM Cadano emphasized.
Included in the pilot ports to where the project was implemented were Ports of Batangas, Manila North Harbor and Cagayan de Oro which were under the Port Management Offices of Batangas, NCR North and Misamis Oriental/ CDO, respectively.
Further, among the several interventions initiated at PPA-managed ports as part of the project were the dissemination of information, education and communication materials on waste management practices; placement of upcycled waste bins for recyclable materials inside the Passenger Terminal Buildings (PTBs); introduction of “Trash-to-Cashback” Program that converts the disposed recyclable materials to “environmental points” which can be used for utility bills, grocery items and food deliveries among others; and the establishment of Material Recovery Facility (MRF) which serves as centralized facility for segregation, recycling and management of solid waste materials.
Aside from mentioned initiatives, on June 2021, through its Memorandum Circular No. 11-2021, PPA implemented the banning of unnecessary single-use plastic products like cups (lower than 0.2mm in thickness), drinking straws, coffee stirrers, spoons, forks, knives, plastic “labo”and sando bags (lower that 15 microns) at all ports, facilities, offices and establishments under its jurisdiction.
WWF is one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. Its mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity.
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